Time interrupter for electric apparatus



Feb. 12, 1952 A. R. RASINI 2,585,839

TIME INTERRUPTER FOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET l [676' 3 Aggy INVENTORZ Feb. 12, 1952 A. R. RASlNl 2,585,839

A TIME INTERRUPTER FOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS Filed Aug. 11, 1948 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 INVEN TOR. w M111; M

Patented Feb. 12, 1952 OFFICE TIME INTERRUPTER FOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS Aldo Roberto Rasini, Rosario, Argentina Application August 11, 1948, Serial No. 43,573 In Argentina February 27, 1948 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic timing switch.

By means of this invention it is possible to start or interrupt an operation at a predetermined instant of time.

The switch according to the invention can light or put out electric lamps, stoves, irons and kitchens, put into action or stop bells or any other sound producing or luminous apparatus as well as ventilators, radioelectric apparatus, etc.

The principal characteristic of the apparatus is a disc or a rotary element, mounted on an hour shaft or a watch motor. A lever rides on the periphery of the discs which lever operates as interrupter alternately contacting two electric contacts. As the disc can be preset to rotate by a mount indicated on a dial, the watch motor will make it turn synchronously according to the speed of the shaft on which it is mounted (shaft of hours, minutes, seconds, or that of the days, etc.) so that, when it reaches its initial position once the established time has elapsed, a slot in the disc coincides with one. end of the lever, the latter entering it and producing in consequence the connection or interruption of the electric current, according to the form of connection of their respective contacts controlled by a switch key. In this way it is possible to actuate the electric apparatus connected to the invented apparatus.

For a better understanding of this invention and in order to be put into practice with great ease, one embodiment of the invention is represented in the following figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the apparatus without the cover, showing its inner mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same apparatus shown with the connecting plug;

Fig. 3 is a top view with the housing removed;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the principal mechanism, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 7 is a front view of the same detail;

Fig. 8 shows a schematic of the electric circuit; and

Fig. 9 shows part of the front of the apparatus casing.

In the different figures of the drawing all visible parts alike are indicated by the same number.

The construction according to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing consists in a disc A (Figures 1, 3, 6, 7, and 8) having a radial slot I starting at the periphery. It also carries a stop 2 on one side close to its edge, as seen especially in Figures 6 and 7.

Upon the disc A there is mounted coaxially therewith the sector B which has a circular slot 3 through which passes the screw 3a which posi- .tlons sector B and limits its angular displace- 2 ment with respect to the disc A. A spring 4 dis posed between this last element and the sector B tends to maintain the latter in a rotated end position corresponding to an annular value determined by slot 3 and the screw 3a.

The disc A is fixed on the hour shaft 5 of a watch mechanism H (Fig. 3), while the sector Bis fixed on a hollow shaft 5a mounted upon the first shaft and carrying the knob G having a pointer, as it is seen in Figures 5 and 9.

The sector B has a tooth formed in its peripheiy and at its end a log 6 urged toward the stop 2 of the disc A by the spring 4 already mentioned, and spaced from one of the arms of the interrupting lever C when this is in the position of Figure 8, as will be explained afterwards.

The interrupting lever C has at its ends flanges 1 and 8, respectively, the latter normally sliding on the periphery of disc A and engaging slot I of the same when the coincidence of both elements (flange 8 and slot l) is produced while the apparatus is in operation, as will be seen below. The other flange 1 cooperates with. two contacts as follows: the pins D and E, secured to the framework of the apparatus, support the insulating brackets Q and II, respectively, which support the elastic contact springs Ill and I2 with either of which the flange 1 of lever C may make contact depending on its position, thereby opening or closing an electric circuit, as may be appreciated from the outline of the circuit illustrated on Figure 8.

The flange 8 of lever C is urged by the leaf spring I3 carried by a pin F mounted in the chassis or framework so as to force the flange 8 to be always in contact with the periphery of disc A and to enter in slot l at a desired instant.

The hour shaft 5 has a coiled spring l4 fixed thereto at an end and the other is attached to a bolt I5 joined to the chassis (Figs. 6 and 7). The same shaft 5 has rigidly mounted the gear l6 meshing with a pinion ll carried by shaft !8 displaceable parallel to itself inside of hole 19 of the chassis, on which it lies and rotates, acting as a ratchet wheel when spring i4 is tensioned. The secondary gear 20 mounted on the same shaft I8 as pinion l1, meshes with the clock mechanism H (Fig. 3) according to conventional design.

Mounted on the housing of the apparatus are plugs 2 |2 la, the conductor of the former having the selecting key K connected in series. Con tacts 22 and 22a are connected, respectively with the contact springs l0 and I2 (Fig. 8). The other plug 2 la is directly connected to one terminal 23a of the female connector J of the outlet, while the other terminal 23a of the latter is connected in series with the interrupter lever 0. Therefore, this lever electrically has the same polarity as plug 2|.

,of dial 24.

The setting knob G mounted on the front face of the apparatus casing cooperates with a dial 24 (Figs. 8 and 9) on which time units are marked in a circular scale that indicates to the operator the time interval he wishes to set.

The operation is as follows:

Once the plug 2l--2la is inserted in an outlet of the power supply system and plug 23-4311 is connected to the device to be controlled by the apparatus of the invention, the handle or knob G is turned to the right (as shown in Figs. 8 and 9) until its pointer indicates on the scale of dial 24 the time during which said apparatus should be connected to an electric circuit, or said circuit should be disconnected therefrom according to the following examples:

Example 1 For connecting a device to an electric circuit for a certain interval of time, the selective key K is placed on contact 22a (Fig. 8) and knob G is afterwards turned to the right until its pointer indicates the time interval desired on the scale The initial point (zero) will coincide with slot of disc A.

Rotating knob G produces the following effects: (1) By its rigid connection to the hollow shaft a and sector B, it compels the same to turn; (2) movement of sector B causes the flange 8 of lever C, if inside slot I, to leave the slot because lug 6 presses against the corresponding arm of lever C, thereby rotating the lever until its other arm, where flange I is, establishes a circuit when touching contact I2 connected to terminal 2| by means of the selective key K as already mentioned; (3) the apparatus connected to the plug 2323a will therefore be in an electric circuit; (4) the rotation of knob G, as indentation 3b of sector B, engages the stop 2, compels disc A to turn over an arc corresponding to the chosen time indicated on dial 24 by the pointer of knob G; (5) rotation of disc A winds coil spring M on shaft 5 which freely rotates in the tensioning direction; (6) flange 8, out of slot I, will be forced toward the periphery of disc A by the spring [3; and ('7) once the spring 14 is so tensioned, the clock mechanism H will start operation, synchronously rotating disc A which will now turn in the opposite direction (towards the left when viewed as in Figs. 1, 7 and 8).

Under these conditions, the apparatus will maintain the circuit closed through plugs 2i, key K, contact 22a, contact l2, lever C and plug 23a to which the apparatus has been connected. The circuit will thus be maintained until the slot l of disc A coincides with flange 8. Then it will be interrupted as lever C, under the pressure of spring [4 swings, as flange 8 enters slot I and, in consequence, tilts lever C, interrupting the circuit by separating flange I from the contact [2 and engaging it with the other contact in. In consequence, the apparatus will remain without electric current, thus obtaining the desired eifect. If there is an interest in closing the circuit again, for an indefinite time, it will be sufficient to move the selective key K to contact 22, the electric current now circulating through it, as the other contact 22a is in an open circuit. The position taken by lever C in the considered case is as that illustrated in Fig. '7.

Ewample 2 In order to start operation of the controlled apparatus after a predetermined time interval, one proceeds as in the previous case, with the only difference that instead of connecting the selective key K with contact 22a, it must be connected with 22. Of course, considering that knob G has already been turned to indicate on dial 24 the time for closing the circuit, the latter, in the meantime, will remain open because lever G is in the position shown in Fig. 8, that is to say with its flange 1 separated from the connected contact l0. When the selected time has passed, that is when disc A has rotated by such a fraction of one revolution that its slot I coincides with flange 8 of lever C, the latter will immediately tilt and will take the position of Fig. 7, and so it will close the circuit as its other flange T touches contact 10, thus obtaining the desired effect.

For interrupting the current, it will be sufli It will be possible to start a new operation sequence with the apparatus by rotating knob G towards the right, placing edge 8 upon the periphery of disc A by means of sector B, as has already been explained.

As means of protection, the apparatus will be inside an adequate housing, and its current carrying parts will be electrically insulated in order to avoid short circuits or the passage of undesired current.

Finally, it must be stated that according to the gearing transmission between the clock mechanism and shaft 5 will affect the time units-of operation.

It is evident that certain modifications of constructive details may be introduced Without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A timing switch for electrically operated appliances controlled by a clock mechanism, comprising a shaft adapted to be rotated by the clock mechanism; a circular disc carried on said shaft and having a radial slot extending from the circumference of the disc towards its center; a twoarmed lever fulcrumed at a point spaced from the circumference of said disc, the first arm of said lever adapted to ride on the circumference of the disc as the disc is rotated; a projection carried by said first lever arm and positioned to' engage said slot in said disc at a predetermined relative position of disc and lever; resilient means urging said first lever arm towards said disc;

an electrical contact member mounted on said second lever arm; two spaced contacts, the first contact being positioned to contact said contact on said second lever arm when said first lever arm rides on the circumference of said disc, said second contact being positioned to contact said contact on said second lever arm when said projection on said first lever arm has entered said slot on said disc; two terminals; a selector switch connecting either of said first or second contacts to the first of said terminals; a plug having two connectors, the first of said connectors being connected to said second terminal, the second of said connectors being connected to said contact carried by said lever; a sector rotatably mounted coaxially to said disc; a knob for manually rotating said sector; a pointer positioned by said knob; a dial positioned to indicate the angular displacement of said pointer; means actuated by' said sector for engaging said disc at a predetermined relative angular position of said disc and said sector; and means actuated by said sector disengaging said projection on said first lever arm from said slot in said disc at a predetermined relative angular range of said disc and said sector.

2. A timing switch for electrically operated appliances controlled by a clock mechanism; a first shaft engaged by said clock mechanism; a coil spring anchored to said first shaft and adapted to drive said shaft; a gearing driven by said first shaft; a second shaft adapted to be driven by said gearing when said gearing rotates in one direction and to be disengaged therefrom when said gearing rotates in the opposite direction, the latter direction being the direction in which the spring is tensioned; a circular disc mounted on said first shaft and having a radial slot extending from the circumference of the disc towards its center; a two-armed lever fulcrumed at a point spaced from the circumference of said disc, the first arm of said lever adapted to ride on the circumference of the disc as the disc is rotated; a projection carried by said first lever arm and positioned to engage said slot in said disc at a predetermined relative position of disc and lever; resilient means urging said first lever arm towards said disc; an electrical contact member mounted on said second lever arm; two spaced contacts, the first contact being positioned to contact said contact on said second lever arm when said first lever arm rides on the circumference of said disc, said second contact being positioned to contact said contact on said second lever arm when said projection on said first lever arm has entered said slot on said disc; two

terminals; a selector switch connnecting either of said first or second contacts to the first of said terminals; a plug having two connectors, the first of said connectors being connected to said second terminal, the second of said connectors being connected to said contact carried by said lever; a sector rotatably mounted coaxially to said disc; a knob for manually rotating said sector; a pointer positioned by said knob; a dial positioned to indicate the angular displacement of said pointer; means actuated by said sector for engaging said disc at a predetermined relative angular position of said disc and said sector; and means actuated by said sector disengaging said projection on said first lever arm from said slot in said disc at a predetermined relative angular range of said disc and said sector.

ALDO ROBERTO RASINI REFERENQES CITED following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,708,619 Hart Apr. 9, 1929 1,831,605 Porter 1 Nov. 10, 1931 1,878,931 Larrabee Sept. 20, 1932 2,102,372 Mills Dec. 14, 1937 2,250,168 Pfieger June 22, 1941 2,357,122 Machinist 1 Aug. 29, 1944 2,424,116 Puerner July 15, 1947 2,431,197 Platt et a1 Nov. 18, 1947 

